leatha_g

I think we need us one of them smiley's with the big old alligator tears flowing out of it's face like yahoo has. This one just doesn't do it somehow.:cry The tears here are really sad tears. The tears that I have when I read something like Ryan's post are a mixture of sadness for what once was, but also a bit of gratefulness and happiness for what is yet to come. It's hard to explain, but once again, Ryan, you hit the nail right on the head. You may not read our minds, but you definitely go straight into the heart.

That could be at least 50% of it? I know when I walk these days, I definitely walk with my head held higher and I may actually make myself more available by smiling more or yea.. presenting more self-confidence. Hmm...

LMAO. I wished. However, I can tell you that men smile at me and make eye contact a whole lot more than 67lbs ago. That's kinda sad, really, but it feels much nicer to not be totally ignored by 90% of the people you come in contact with on a daily basis. Alas, I think my age has caught up with me.

Taylor, I'm sorry for your disappointment. I know insurance issues can really be a bummer, but please do not give up on Mexico. There are a handful of shady characters in Mexico that you shouldn't trust, but by and large most of the Mexican docs are far more experienced with the band and operate very legitimate, caring, qualified and clean office/facilities. Most of these guys actually train the US docs who have and are now learning to install the bands. Most of the people I know who've been operated on in Mexico absolutely love their docs and trust them with their lives. I was not personally banded in Mexico, so I have no stake in saying any of this, but it's my opinion that you are far better off with some of those guys than many many of the new less experienced docs in the US, especially if you are going to have to self pay. Don't give up! You can make this happen if you truly are determined to make it happen! Good luck to you!

NSV - non scale victory. Anything that makes you feel really good that has nothing to do with the numbers on a scale. ie.. fitting into a turnstyle with ease, not needing a seat belt extender on a plane. fitting into smaller jeans, having someone whistle at you while you're getting in your car, feeling your hip bones, collar bones, shoulders, seeing things you haven't seen in years..:devious shall I continue? lol

Marie, You're a doll and we love you just the way you are. (((((((((Marie)))))))) Thank you so much for sharing this very personal thing with all of us.

Yes ma'am and I'm surprised that you didn't come across this dilemma in your pre-op research. This is a very common thing and pretty much the biggest complaint of brand new bandsters. The first 6 weeks post-op is meant purely for healing. That is why the doc tells you not to eat solids right away. They do not want you forcing your freshly operated on tummy to grind and churn trying to digest hard solids so that it can be 'anchored' in by developing scar tissue. This helps to prevent slipping of the band later down the road. Most people do not wake up with restriction. Those who do are lucky. Most don't. So, any weight loss during this time is purely bonus! Then, there's always that saying, 'just because you CAN does not mean you should! " So, at this time, you may have to practice the bandster rules of eating. In the meantime, I'm posting a link that michelle has posted from time for newly banded folks who suffer this dilemma. Good luck! You are not alone. http://www.geocities.com/michellojackson/NOT_AT_SWEET-SPOT.html Also, you may want to begin tracking your intake on www.fitday.com just see where your Protein vs carbs fall. It's a very handy tool. ************************************************************ Ten Important Rules These rules for eating, drinking, and exercise will help you get the best results with your Lap-band: 1. Eat only three small meals a day. 2. Eat slowly and chew thoroughly (approximately 15-20 times per bite). 3. Stop eating as soon as you feel full. 4. Do not drink while eating. 5. Do not eat between meals. 6. Eat only good quality food. 7. Avoid fibrous food. 8. Drink enough fluids during the day. 9. Drink only low-calorie liquids. 10. Exercise at least 30 minutes per day.

I love the quilt too! I don't have a creative bone in my body.

The diaphragm is a finicky patient, indeed. I'm glad to hear you got some relief. I'm sure the hiccups for so long was very annoying.

Welcome home Scott! So sorry to hear of your terrible swelling and post-op stay. Yes. I have heard a few others who had this post-op swelling for the first few days. It does sound tough, but I think most of them are now well on their way to being much healthier and glad they did it. I'm really glad you're over the worst part and now on your way too. You've already got a great start on losing, although I'm sure it would have been easier to have done it without being so sick. Glad you're home and doing better now! Good luck to you! Leatha

At this stage, the water is far more important than the protein. Of course, try for a decent amount of protein vs carbs, but most importantly, don't let yourself become dehydrated. During the liquids/mushy phase it is quite a challenge to get all the protein in. I would drink an Atkins shake for breakfast, have jello, yogurt, popsicles throughout the day, maybe a soup at hand for lunch, then another atkins shake in the evening, but most importanly, water for hydration.

Agencies considering changing policy on payments Friday, November 5, 2004 Posted: 10:59 AM EST (1559 GMT) BALTIMORE, Maryland (Reuters) -- Obesity surgery has helped many patients lose weight and improve their health, a panel of experts told U.S. regulators Thursday, but they added there was not enough data on how well it has worked for elderly patients covered by Medicare. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is considering whether the government's health insurance plan for the elderly and disabled should change its payment policy for the surgery, which shrinks the stomach by removing part of it or implanting a removable band. "I didn't see any data whatsoever that these very same results could be applied" to Medicare patients, said Barbara McNeil, panel vice chairwoman and head of health-care policy at Harvard Medical School. Regulations limit CMS coverage to defined diseases, but earlier this year the agency deleted language that said obesity was not a disease. The panelists' advice is not binding but will help CMS officials decide if changes are needed. The agency already covers weight loss surgery to alleviate serious obesity-related conditions like diabetes, but coverage varies among regions. Most Medicare patients who get coverage for the surgery are younger, disabled patients, according to the American Obesity Association. Private health insurers, which often eye Medicare coverage decisions when formulating their own, have been growing more skeptical of such surgeries, some experts have said. The panelists examined data on several types of surgeries, including gastric bypass, which removes part of the stomach and connects the remaining portion to the small intestine to bypass much of the digestive system. Another procedure, called gastric banding, uses a type a adjustable fluid-filled band to squeeze off a part of the stomach. A number of companies make devices or parts used in the surgery, including Inamed Corp., International Ltd. and Synovis Life Technologies Inc.. Johnson & Johnson also makes stomach bands used in Europe. Doctors and advocates called on the panel to recommend that CMS cover all obesity surgeries, including the adjustable band, as well as psychiatric and nutrition counseling. Picking a specific treatment "is a decision best left to the patient and to the surgeon," said Dr. Henry Buchwald, a non-voting panelist and surgery professor at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Some surgeons complained that Medicare denied coverage for some severe bypass cases and called on officials to establish a clearer policy. Weight problems are a growing health issue in the United States, where nearly two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese, according to the National Institutes of Health. Obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) - a weight-for-height ratio - of more than 30. For an average woman, that usually means being 30 pounds overweight and, for an average man, 35 to 40 pounds.

Thank you Penni. I was hoping you'd do that!

Just wanted to share an awesome post from ObesityHelp.com concerning Pre-op research and understanding of what this procedure entails. I highly suggest potential and new bandsters to read this very carefully. http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/surgtype-forums/LapBand/postdetail/96691.html?vc=0

YAY!!!! Awesome news, Ryan!! Just days away from beginning again.. Wow! Congratulations and best of luck to you!:banana :Bunny :banana :Bunny :banana :Bunny :banana :Bunny

LMAOROFL , thank you for sharing Ms Michelle Blue Eyes...

She did NOT just say all that... lol

If they fill the band to a certain tightness around a 2 1/4 inch esophagus and the person loses 25lbs, maybe their esophagus now becomes a 2 inch esophagus? Therefore, the band that WAS tight, now has play/room between it and the esophageal tissue. Take your fingers and place them around your wrist. Then, consider, if you lost 30lbs and your wrist became smaller, you'd have more room between your fingers and your wrist, right? Same theory. So, in order for my fingers to tighten around my wrist again, i have to close them tighter?? Does this help? The band is like a gasket, only instead of having a band with a screw on the outside of it, it has an inflatable bladder on the inside, so as there becomes excess room the bladder can be filled more to take up the excess space. Maybe seeing a picture will help you to envision it. Scroll down to pg 2 on this document and you can see better how the bladder is inflatable. Also, there is some good information here regarding the different Inamed bands ; sizes etc. http://www.gisurgery.net/OverviewObesityBariatricSurgery.pdf Now, true enough, sometimes when the docs go to pull out a person's fill, there is not as much there as they think they put in. There is speculation that some of it is lost through evaoporation, osmosis?, maybe they didn't really put as much in as they thought? maybe they didn't pull it all out? It is definitely not an exact science.

<HR align=right width="95%"> What is Upper Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract Radiography? Also called an upper gastrointestinal (GI) series or simply an upper GI, upper gastrointestinal tract radiography is an x-ray examination of the esophagus, stomach and first part of the small intestine. However, in order for the anatomy to show up on radiographic images, the upper gastrointestinal tract must be coated or filled with a contrast material called barium, an element that appears bright white on radiographs. The barium is given to the patient to drink. This procedure is called upper gastrointestinal tract radiography when the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum are evaluated, or a barium swallow when only the pharynx and esophagus are evaluated. Additionally, some patients are asked to swallow baking-soda crystals to create gas and further improve the images; this procedure has the modified name of air-contrast or double-contrast upper GI. ********************************************************** It used to be that this was done with still pictures/xrays, however, nowadays they have Flouroscopy, which basically is digital moving pictures, so that they get a more multidimensional picture. To us, it's basically a barium swallow - same procedure, more advanced equipment.

umm, actually, in the hospital, the test is called an Upper GI series. but, you're right it is indicative of the upper gastro area.

Where do you live? If you were to be banded in the US, you'd want someone relatively close for your follow up and any incidentals like fills, complications, etc. Have you checked out the surgeon locator at www.lap-band.com ?? That might be a good place to start seeing exactly who is in your area. Welcome to the forum!

Welcome jeo!! Glad to have you join us! Feel free to check out all the different sections for information and experience shared by everyone! Congratulations on the decision to take your life back!! Welcome!

You're first fill may not always be the fill that gives you the much needed restriction. Depending on your dr, he/she may prefer to 'creep up' on the restriction or be aggressive with larger fills. Sometimes, it takes up to 2 and 3 fills before you really get to that place where you can eat enough to be satisfied but still manage to lose weight. I've had three fills since i was rebanded in July and I'm still not having the restriction I need. It will come, but we have to do our own parts too, which is learning to make better choices about the foods we put in our mouths and the amounts too. Until you get to that place of restriction, you sort of have to 'white knuckle' it for a spell. You're not alone, we've all had to find that place by trial and error. Patience... it took us many years to get here, it may take us a little while to get back to where we want to be too. I think the rule of thumb is, if you are getting in all your Water, getting exercise, not snacking, getting in all your Protein and not eating sweets. If you are Still not losing after a minimum of 2 weeks, maximum of 4, you should consider having another fill. Each doc has his own set of rules, however.

I've heard it said on some other groups that some have better luck with the fluid not disipating by using a percentage of contrast solution and a percentage of saline with the swedish band. Some folks bring it home with them from France, Belgium, etc.

It is my understanding that as we lose weight, so do we lose a certain amount of tissue where our band is, thus causing the band to loosen with time. So, every so many weeks/months we might possibly need to adjust our bands accordingly. Makes sense to me. It also makes sense to me that everyone loses differently, so I may lose mostly in my legs and behind while someone else may lose more in the their waist. This could be the explanation for some needing more fills than others? Just a guess..